Fully Funded PhD Openings at the University of Virginia.
Dr. Chen Cui’s research group at the University of Virginia has multiple fully funded PhD openings starting in Fall 2025.
These positions are affiliated with the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering within the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia, located in Charlottesville, VA.
We invite applicants with strong interests in space engineering plasma science/engineering, high-performance computing. computational modeling of spacecraft electric propulsion and space environments, and the development of numerical algorithms/codes or data-driven methods for plasma modeling to apply.
Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Cui at cuichen a virginia.edu with the subject line [Prospective PhD Student] and attach a CV,
Desired Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, or a related field.
Self-motivation and interests in research related to space engineering and computational modeling.
Problem-solving skills and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a research team.
Effective communication skills to facilitate teamwork and present complex research findings clearly in both written and oral formats.
Preferred (but not required) Qualifications
Experience with compiled programming languages such as C/C++ or Fortran; proficiency with interpreted languages like MATLAB or Python.
Experience in computational methods and numerical simulations, particularly within high-performance computing (HPC) environments. Experience in data-driven methods or machine learning techniques, especially as applied to computational modeling or plasma physics.
Strong mathematical skills, especially a solid understanding of differential equations.
Background in plasma physics/engineering or fluid dynamics.
About the Lab
Dr. Cui’s research group investigates plasma dynamics relevant to spacecraft electric propulsion, space environments, and other low-temperature plasma applications.
The group also focuses on developing numerical algorithms and codes for fully kinetic plasma modeling.
By leveraging advanced computational tools in large-scale, high-performance computing environments, we investigate the connections between the microscopic kinetics and macroscopic plasmas dynamics.
About Dr. Chen Cui
Dr. Cui joined UVA as an Assistant Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in Fall 2024.
Dr. Cui received his Ph.D. in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California, where he also completed his Master’s in High-Performance Computing.
He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Beihang University. Dr. Cui’s research intersects plasma physics, space engineering, and high-performance computing, focusing on high-fidelity, fully kinetic modeling of plasma dynamics. Dr. Cui is also the primary developer of Vlasolver, a large-scale, parallelized framework for fully kinetic plasma modeling.
For more information about Dr. Cui, please see: https://engineering.virginia.edu/faculty/chen-cui
About the University
The University of Virginia (UVA) encompasses twelve schools in Charlottesville, VA. The University employs nearly 30,000 people at Charlottesville, including approximately 16,000 faculty and staff, and approximately 12,000 Health System employees.
In 2024, the University was ranked the No. 4 best public university by U.S. News & World Report. In the 20 years since U.S. News began ranking public universities as a separate category, UVA has ranked in the Top 5 and continues to rank in the Top 30 among the best of all national universities, public and private.
UVA Engineering is the fourth university-level engineering school in the United States of America, founded in 1836. UVA Engineering is among the top-ranked engineering schools in the country. and all of UVA Engineering’s departments are also among the top in their disciplines.
Application Information
Prospective students should review:
https://engineeringvirginia.edu/graduate-study/future-grad-students
https://engineeringvirginia.edu/graduate-study/future-grad-students/graduate-admission
- Applications should be submitted through the official application system under the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Program.
Ph.D. Application Deadline for Fall 2025*: December 18th, 2024
*Note: MS and PhD applications are typically considered on a rolling basis, depending on faculty needs for Graduate Research Assistants.
Applications received before the December 18th deadline will be considered for nomination for supplemental fellowship awards for academic excellence.
Submissions received after this deadline may still be considered for admission, depending on the needs of individual faculty.